Kolkhi GRT, Davit Kajaia and Mariam Davitidze created a boom for the NASCAR Euro Series in Eastern Europe – The Challenger Trophy contender wants to make the next big step
- The NASCAR Euro Series becomes more and more popular in Eastern Europe
- Kolkhi GRT binds many motorsport fans in Georgia to the series
- Davit Kajaia wants to defend the Challenger Trophy title
To understand the sudden, deafening roar of V8 engines taking over the Caucasus, you have to look at the Sunday television ratings in Tbilisi. A country historically dominated by football, rugby, wrestling, and traditional European road racing has found a new, pure racing obsession. The catalyst is Kolkhi GRT, a brand-new, first-year Georgian outfit competing in Europe’s premier NASCAR division.
Armed with a single, roaring #8 Toyota, the underdog team is not just surviving against the continent’s elite – they are sparking an unprecedented sports boom back home, turning a nation of casual observers into die-hard NASCAR fans.
At the center of this cultural shift is veteran race driver Davit Kajaia, who pilots the Kolkhi GRT machine in the premier V8GP division. Despite matching up against powerhouse teams with decades of notebook data, Kajaia has the Georgian flag flying high in the championship standings.
Currently sitting 12th in the overall championship, Kajaia’s primary focus is the Challenger Trophy – the highly competitive class for elite amateur drivers. The battle has quickly turned into a classic international duel. Kajaia – who won the Challenger Trophy in 2025 – sits in second place, trailing American racer Logan Bearden by only a single point.
“Even though we are a completely new Georgian team with the least amount of experience on the grid with these cars, I’d say we are performing quite well,” Kajaia said. “Of course, we are fighting for the title too.”
Kajaia’s championship talk isn’t just cementing the bragging rights. Before the series hit its summer break, he proved his road-course mettle. At the high-speed Circuit Paul Ricard in Le Castellet, France, Kajaia kept his fenders clean in an intense race to secure a season-best sixth-place finish, signaling to the paddock that the Georgian squad is a legitimate threat.
But the magic of the #8 team lies in its shared-ride format. When Kajaia climbs out of the cockpit, rising star Mariam Davitidze buckles in to contest the OPEN division. For Davitidze, handling a heavy, high-horsepower, rear-wheel-drive machine has been a steep learning curve, but one she is mastering at a staggering pace. “She is incredibly talented and learning very fast,” Kajaia said of his teammate.
This dual-threat attack has captured the imagination of the Georgian public. From the green flag at the season opener in Valencia, through the sweeping corners of France, to the legendary asphalt of Brands Hatch, fan clubs have sprouted across Georgia. What started as curiosity has evolved into genuine passion, with thousands tuning in to watch the #8 Camry trade paint on Europe’s toughest road courses.
“Racing fans back home are genuinely excited about NASCAR in general, and now they are enjoying the race weekends even more by supporting a Georgian team in the series,” Kajaia reflected. “Many thanks to our supporters and the people who made this possible.”
With the summer break giving the team a brief window to mass-massage the setup and find more speed, the battle for the Challenger Trophy is set to explode in the second half of the season. If the first three race weekends are any indication, Georgia’s new favorite sport is only going to get bigger. “I think the most interesting stories are still to come,” Kajaia smiled. “Every weekend is an exciting experience.”
Featured image by NASCAR Euro Series / Bart Dehaese
